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  1. Every month we put an U2 fan in the spotlights, the fan of the month August 2010 is user molang7. Read along for the interview we had with a this U2 fan girl from Chicago.

    Tell us something about yourself, who are you and what do you do for a living?
    My name is Maura and I'm 22 years old. I live in Chicago and am currently a university student. I'm entering my final year (thank God), studying Criminal justice and Spanish. I hope to one day be a Spanish teacher at the high school I graduated from and coach soccer. For the summer though, I work full time at an accounting firm in the heart of Chicago. Its very boring work- doing administrative things like filing- but it gives me some cash to spend money on the weekends. I also volunteer once a week teaching English to Spanish speakers.

    Did you ever have a special U2 experience like a live concert? Can you tell us something about it?
    Oh wow, there's so many "moments" it will be hard for me to pick just one...

    I've been to 4 U2 concerts and my first concert was quite an experience. I remember waiting in line for tickets for a May 10, 2005 for 2 hours in the frigid February Chicago winter. In line, there was a lottery system, to see who got "first picks" of tickets. At that point, U2 only stated they were having 2 concert days in Chicago for their Vertigo leg. Once we were getting near the counter to buy tickets, we heard that all tickets were sold out, but they just released a 3rd show! I was so thrilled, but unfortunately the GA tix were sold out. Once I bought my "nose bleeds" they announced another show...which was unfortunate b/c i was the last person to buy tickets for show 3.

    When May 10th finally rolled around, my best friend Olivia and I were in school talking about how excited we were to go to the concert. She had GA tickets and offered for me to go with her (for free). My mom wouldn't let me because she didn't know of anyone else to ask to the concert and didn't want my ticket to go to waste. I try not to think of this moment, but .... her ticket read VERTIGO VERTIGO VERTIGO...allowing her into the inner circle. Needless to say, she was front row, caught Bono's cork from champagne that he poured on the audience, and can be seen in the Vertigo DVD. I never let my mom forget about that... Anywho, earlier that day in class, Olivia and I were sitting in Math class, and we both started doing the "Woo..Woo..." from Elevation. We both nearly got detentions. Maybe it was Bono's bday present to me that I didn't get a detention...

    I think the most special moment though is the 360 tour when Olivia and I stood in the GA line from 10AM on. We met a ton of awesome U2 fans in line, some of which I still keep in touch with. We heard so many stories and saw so many cool retro U2 concert shirts. While waiting in line, I drew up a sign on a piece of paper, funnily wrote on one of my friend's syllabi from her class. I wrote, "Trade glasses, Bono?" I had these really cool red shades that I bought in Rome that were only 2 euro- they traveled with me throughout my semester abroad. During the concert Olivia, my sister, and friend were right in the inner circle towards the back. It was so cool to see the band just a few feet away from me... even cooler knowing back in 05 I could barely see them. I had my poster up, and when Bono was crawling across the cat walk, he stared at it, gave a half smile and I nearly melted and probably had hearts throbbing in my eyes. Everyone all around me was like, "WOAH! He looked at you!!!" Even if he did give me his glasses...it would have been hard to give up my red ones.

    The whole buildup to the start of 360 in Chicago was awesome... my dad drove me back up to school and we passed Soldier Field, I screamed, and he swirved a little bit in fright.... but really it was because I saw the trucks lined up to create the claw. He yelled at me, because I got excited over "some trucks" But those weren't just ANY trucks to me... I biked 2 hours round trip(30 miles) 2 times- even getting past the guards inside Soldier Field) just to see the claw being built. I also remember a local radio station having an interview with U2 Live. I sprinted from my last class through campus to my apartment. People must have though I was crazy, but really I just wanted to listen to interview.

    Where do you most prefer to listen to U2?
    I have kind of a monotonous summer job where I do the same thing over, and over, and over again for 8 hour per day. I LOVE to listen to U2 during these times, listening to bootleg, kind of forgetting I'm doing this boring old job, and imagining I'm at one of U2s gigs. It gives me life and excitement during a boring day. People might look over at me and think I'm just doing filing, but really, in my mind's eye, I'm jumping in the middle of the pit during Streets.

    How did you become a fan of U2, tell us how it happened?
    My mom is a U2 fan. Seeing the band probably now around 8x. When she would drive me places and a U2 song was on, she would always say "THIS IS THE EDGE!!" I always knew their "radio songs" because of my mom pointing them out and telling me stories about her experiences at their concert. She told me a story of how her car was towed during the Chicago show during the War era (she actually got towed again during the 360 leg too, because she was supposed to be out of the train parking lot at midnight, she got to the spot at 12:05 to see her car nowhere to be seen). I truly joined U2start, because I discovered there was bootlegs, and some of my only downloads are concerts that she's been to, giving a Chicago War bootleg to her as a present. What I put on the ripped CD was, "Sound familiar??"

    In 2000, I really got into the band bc of Beautiful Day - my first illegal download- spending 2 hours on a dial up computer and listening to BD over and over again. I truly got into the band in 2002, because of my friend Olivia. I asked her which CDs to ask for X-mas and she told me to start with Best of 80-90. I now knew what my bday/ x-mas presents were until I completed my collection...

    Were you very disappointed with the show cancellations? What are your tour plans now?
    Extremely disappointed, I was supposed to go to Chicago and Michigan for the concerts. After I heard the news, I moped around the house like someone in the family died. No real plans for the tour though now. I'm not sure whether or not I can last a whole year off of the setlist forums... I do love a good surprise- going into a concert not knowing any of the songs they will play, but those forums are like pandora's box...just waiting for me to open them. I'm not strong enough to last a whole year I might even give in and even d/l a bootleg. I'm just excited for those in Europe who will be able to see them this summer. And am glad Bono's injury wasn't as serious as it could be.

    Which U2 song do you feel the most "attached" to, or means the most for you?
    Beautiful Day. It was the song that first got me loving the band. If I'm in a good or bad mood, the song just lifts me up and forces me to scream the lyrics at the top of my lungs.

    You have spent some time in Europe, any good memories from your time over there?
    Studying abroad was the best 4 months of my life. I spent most of my time in Rome, but traveled to Dublin (got to meet up with my Irish cousin), Tunisia, Africa, all over Croatia, Amsterdam, many cities in Italy. I cried my eyes out when I had to go home- I made the most incredible friends, made a few Roman friends, and as a capper won the "queen of the school." I would give anything to go back.

    I plan to study abroad again in January of 2011- May 2011 in Mexico to really become fluent in Spanish. Hopefully U2 will come to Mexico City while I'm there. I will 100% forgive the band for their US tour postponement

    When you're forced to leave to a deserted island and you can take only one U2 album with you, which would it be?
    (its too hard to pick between JT or AB, so I'd say...)
    NLOTH- it came out in March when I was in Rome. I took the bus to a record store and bought it. I listened to that CD while I was traveling- in the sand dunes in Tunisia, taking a jog from my school to Vatican City. Every time I listen the album I get goosebumps, because it brings me back to the cobblestones of Rome.

    What are your hobbies and interests away from U2, musical or otherwise?
    Listening to music in general, listening to new bands and seeing live acts- I've seen about 8 concerts this summer and plan on going to Lollapalooza in Chicago. I'm also starting to teach myself guitar. I'm a "vet" of about 5 weeks of teaching myself how to play.

    Sports is my main hobby- I love to watch and play all sports, especially soccer. I won "all area" in my local area in Chicago- a pretty prestigious award. I also won an "honorable mention" award for best in my area in Illinois. I continue to play 2-3 games per week around Chicago. I can never give up playing. My favorite baseball team is the Chicago Cubs. Please pray for us...we havent won the World Series- the championship- in about 103 years. Typically fans of the Cubs are from the NorthSide and Chicago White Sox fans are from the South Side. I'm a southsider but I love the North Side Cubbies- I get a lot of heckling from my friends, because my team is the most losing team in ALL of sports. Maybe next year will be the year...?

    As a fan of the game of soccer, where do you see the game going in the US in the next few years?
    Many people might not believe me when I say this, but I believe the US National Team will win the World Cup in the next 20-30 years. The sport only grew here in the 80s, and look what we've already accomplished! With soccer becoming the most played sport in the US of people under 20, there is a huge generation of players that will become good enough to play Europe and will be eventually selected for our national team.

    I'm also a season ticket holder for the MLS team the Chicago Fire. Since the Fire started in '98, the sport has grown tremendously. 3 seasons ago we've finally got all of our games televised - and even showed highlights on the news stations! I remember countless times e-mailing news stations, scolding them for not showing highlights of the game. Now the sport is growing here in the US and the sport is as popular as ever. Some of my friends who never had interest in the game watched a lot of the World Cup and are asking me to go to Fire games.

    ....sorry for the long interview. I'm quite the jabber mouth.

    Thanks for this interview molang7!

    Note: Our crew members randomly pick fans of the month, you can't sign up for it.
  2. Maura!!!

    Congrats!!!!
    Very nice read!!!! great interview!!!

  3. Nice one, Mo!
  4. Great read Maura

    You mentioned the Fire, I'm getting dangerously into the MLS now! My friend from uni. spent 6 months in Kansas in the spring for his degree (he's taken on the Wizards as his 2nd team now mind), and now I've been getting pretty into it. Great league - the passion of MLS fans is quite amazing
  5. Trade glasses??

    ¡¡Muchas felicidades por ser el fan del mes, Maura, realmente te lo mereces!!

  6. Congratulations Maura!
  7. Brilliant Maura! Intresting to read
  8. Originally posted by WojBhoy:Great read Maura

    You mentioned the Fire, I'm getting dangerously into the MLS now! My friend from uni. spent 6 months in Kansas in the spring for his degree (he's taken on the Wizards as his 2nd team now mind), and now I've been getting pretty into it. Great league - the passion of MLS fans is quite amazing


    the fire just beat the leagues best 3-2 (we almost blew it, had a 3 nil lead!). two of the usa national team players are on it... edson buddle and the one and only landon donovan! i hope you pick the chicago fire as your '2nd team'



    thanks everyone
  9. Here is a picture of my famous red glasses. My sister took this picture because of pure boredom in line for 360.I'm also wearing my mom's authentic Unforgettable Fire shirt.

  10. Great interview!
  11. Nice interview
  12. Originally posted by molang7:the fire just beat the leagues best 3-2 (we almost blew it, had a 3 nil lead!). two of the usa national team players are on it... edson buddle and the one and only landon donovan! i hope you pick the chicago fire as your '2nd team'

    Haha, I'm still deciding on who to take on as my 2nd team, but I am open to persuasion/bribes etc.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.